How dull. No
Manchester City game for 2 weeks.
I know International games are important and I could be commiting high treason, but I hate the International breaks. We never used to have them. Of course players now need more rest and the season is longer and blah blah blah, but has it helped us? I would argue not. England's international performances have not improved as a result.
So why have the break? All that has happened is that two Internationals are now played back to back, which must be equally if not more tiring (or tiresome) for all. Well maybe not all. For
Man City fans and the staff at
Manhester City's acclaimed Acedmy it was a huge thrill.
Saturday's performance was good, but seeing
Micah Richards and
Shaun Wright Phillips score and play as well as they did was a bonus for all
Manchester City fans.
I dont know about you, but I still feel that
Shaun Wright Philips is a City player. Every time he gets the ball, even for Chelsea; I seem to urge him on as if he was still with us.
It must be a huge thrill for Jim Cassell to see two of his Academy players doing so well for England. Im sure he allowed himself a moment of pride - as he should.
Having spent a couple of weeks with Jim (Above) and the Academy team in Bermuda a couple of years ago, I can say from persoanl experience that Jim is one of the most down to earth men you could ever meet. His, and his teams acievements at
Manchester City have been phenomenal.
To have five players from the Academy as first team regulars is astounding, particularly when you bear in mind that the Club's support for the Academy has not always been what it should.
I remember one occassion when a certain current senior board member told me they were lucky if they got one player a year out of the Academy. I hope his attitude has changed and the club make increased Academy funding readily available.
The Academy itself has a committee, made up largely of club patrons and businessmen who tirelessly raise funds for Jim and the team.
All of those involved deserve the plaudits, as the fruits of their labours appear regularly up and down the country and in International colours.
Raise a glass to them this week.
Jim Cassell - OBE?
Tony Meehan
